Jambothejourno | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/series/jambothejourno
Recent graduate Jambo is looking for his first paid position as a journalist. Follow his progressen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:24:00 GMT2015-08-02T22:24:00Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2015The Guardianhttp://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttp://www.theguardian.com
Jambothejourno seeks work: My first job - one year onhttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-my-first-job-one-year-on
After seven months of job hunting Jamie Smith finally got the journalism job he so desperately wanted and now, one year on, he sent us this update to let us know how things turned out<p>With a year passed since my last <a href="http://careers.guardian.co.uk/jambothejourno-gets-a-job">update</a>, I think it's time to let you all in on what I've been up to since starting my first journalism job at online news provider Adfero back in January.</p><p>Working here has been almost exactly as I expected. I knew it was going to be hard work and to say it has been would be an understatement.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-my-first-job-one-year-on">Continue reading...</a>Guardian CareersMediaAll sectorsGraduateJournalism careersMon, 20 Dec 2010 12:44:04 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-my-first-job-one-year-onAntonio Olmos/Antonio OlmosSimilarly to this passenger, the long commute from Burnley to Manchester took its toll on Jambothejourno. Photograph: Antonio OlmosAntonio Olmos/Antonio OlmosA passenger sleeps on a Virgin train heading north to Crewe
Photograph: Antonio OlmosJamie Smith2010-12-20T12:44:04ZHurrah! Jambo's got a job!http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-gets-a-job
Six months after finishing uni Jambothejourno is on his way<p>Great news – I got a call from Adfero this afternoon offering me a job as a DirectNews correspondent, starting in January. I've been e-mailed some details and asked to think about it before letting them know for sure tomorrow. But I'll definitely be taking it. I've waited more than six months for a job offer and it would be foolish to turn down my first one. And I really think it's a good first job for me. It will give me the chance to hone my news writing and finish off my NCTJ qualifications as well as get crucial real-life experience of working in a newsroom environment.</p><p>The starting wage is an impressive &pound;16k a year, with 22 days of holidays, which is better than a lot of local newspaper jobs I've applied for over the summer. And it's close enough for me to commute on the bus from home in the short-term, albeit adding around three hours on to my working day. All being well though I will have a car and be able to move closer to Manchester by the summer.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-gets-a-job">Continue reading...</a>Guardian CareersMediaJournalism careersWed, 02 Dec 2009 15:36:17 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-gets-a-jobTsuneo Yamashita/Getty ImagesFireworks display at night. Photograph: Tsuneo Yamashita/Getty ImagesJamie Smith2009-12-02T15:36:17ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 9http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-9
Agency calling: It was never in his plans to work at a news agency, but that's exactly where Jambo has an interview for on Friday<p>Despite my mood being boosted by the <a href="http://careers.guardian.co.uk/guardian-london-graduate-fair-from-the-careers-group">Guardian London Graduate Fair</a>, at which I spoke on a panel in October, the past few weeks have been tough going and it's often been difficult to drag myself out of bed in the morning with seemingly little to look forward to. I had hoped that there would be an influx of new jobs coming up for me to use up my post-fair newly-found enthusiasm but nothing suitable has come up and days and even weeks have slipped by with no progress.</p><p>I've applied for just three full-time newspaper jobs since my last update; one for a reporter at the <a href="http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk">Bolton News</a>, for which I am grossly under-qualified and frankly am embarrassed for wasting their time applying for, and for trainee reporter jobs at the <a href="http://www.thisisretford.co.uk">Retford Times </a>and at the John O'Groat Journal and the <a href="http://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk">Caithness Courier</a>, a twelve-hour train ride away in Wick in the very north of Scotland. I've not yet heard anything back from any of them.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-9">Continue reading...</a>Guardian CareersMediaJournalism careersThu, 26 Nov 2009 11:38:43 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-9David Cheskin/PAThe Castle of Mey, near John O'Groats, Scotland, Photograph: David Cheskin/PAJamie Smith2009-11-26T11:38:43ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 8http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-8
Taking the blindfold off: Has Jambo seen the light?<p>I didn't get either of the jobs I wrote about in the last update. But I did get some detailed feedback from Congleton, which was helpful yet quite baffling. A section of the editor's e-mail reads: &quot;I thought you'd make a very proficient chief reporter, to be honest — you're obviously organised and like taking control, plus seemed sensible and hard working.</p><p>&quot;Ironically that put me off having you as a trainee — we've had such people before and they can be hard to control. Remember that all trainees basically know nothing — it's a matter of appearing competent but not too cocky or experienced.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-8">Continue reading...</a>Guardian CareersMediaGraduateJournalism careersThu, 22 Oct 2009 13:36:18 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-8GuardianJambo's <a href="http://jambothejourno.wordpress.com/movie-intro/">covering letter</a>, using a site called <a href="http://www.xtranormal.com/">XtraNormal</a>— funny, worth a lookGuardian Staff2009-10-22T13:36:18ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 7http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-7
A tale of two interviews: Job interviews really are like buses. You wait four months for one, and then two come along in a week<p>Just days after my last update I got a call from the Brighton Argus, inviting me to come down for a chat. Brighton is a long way away but I didn't have to think twice and booked my train tickets — all ten hours journey time of them — immediately.</p><p>But first was Congleton. I was taken with the place straight away. To get there you have to drive through the footballer's paradise that is Alderley Edge, and I was worried Congleton would be a clone, all boulangaries and pretentious little cafes. But it's a charming little town, formerly industrial, and now very much a place where it feels people go to bring up families, or to spend their last few years in peace and quiet.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-7">Continue reading...</a>Guardian CareersInterviewsCVsMediaGraduateJournalism careersTue, 06 Oct 2009 16:27:52 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-7Linda NylindA murmuration of starlings over Brighton Pier at sunset. Photograph: Linda NylindJamie Smith2009-10-06T16:27:52ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 6http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-6
Congleton calling? Jambo has finally got an interview!<p>It's only taken four months since finishing uni — but I've got an interview. It's for a trainee reporter job at the wonderfully named <a href="http://www.chronicleseries.com/">Congleton Chronicle</a>. After the despondence of my last entry, I really feel like I've made positive progress in the past couple of weeks and this is my reward for my hard work.</p><p>The interview is next Wednesday morning and I'm already swotting up on Congleton and its surrounding area, researching the newspaper, its staff and its owners and generally trying to absorb as much information about the place as I possibly can.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-6">Continue reading...</a>MediaGuardian CareersGraduateJournalism careersFri, 25 Sep 2009 13:51:30 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-6David Levene/Guardian&amp;quot;I have booked my driving theory for next week.&amp;quot; Photograph: David LeveneDavid Levene/GuardianLearner drivers in South Woodford, London. Photograph: David LeveneJamie Smith2009-09-25T13:51:30ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 5http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-5
One last shot? Is Jambo ready to jack in his pursuit of journalism already?<p>After the blind hope that was the deluge of applications I submitted throughout August, the arrival of September has been a depressing realisation of the summer's passing. It's now three months since I finished my degree, and I'm no nearer to finding full-time work as a journalist. I've applied for around 25 jobs, had only one interview, and received only two or three rejection letters.</p><p>I'm starting to think I might be kidding myself that I'm in the right industry. Clearly, something is stopping employers from wanting to give me a job, although I'm lost as to what it could be. I have a decent amount of experience through work placements, I relished taking on projects during my degree, and I have four NCTJ industry standard qualifications, including shorthand, already under my belt, as well as my degree. However, I did hear that the <a href="http://jp.jobstoday.co.uk/">Yorkshire Post job</a> I applied for a couple of months ago had over 250 other people going for it.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-5">Continue reading...</a>MediaGuardian CareersGraduateJournalism careersFri, 04 Sep 2009 13:32:09 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-5Don McPhee/GuardianLeaving the country for a job might seem a bit of an extreme reaction but I loved the Isle of Man when I visited on holiday as a teenager. Photograph: Don McPhee/GuardianJamie Smith2009-09-04T13:32:09ZJambothejourno seeks work: Part 4http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-4
Renewed optimism or false hope? Jambo's journey to find his first paid position as a journalist goes on<p>After a quiet fortnight or so on the jobs front, these last few days have been positively brimming with opportunities. And for some reason, it feels like a last chance saloon situation. If I don't get anywhere with this batch, I'll have to start seriously reconsidering my future, both immediate and long-term.</p><p>I've applied for a whole host of jobs, nine in the last week, including a sports reporter job at the <a href="http://www.barnsley-chronicle.co.uk/">Barnsley Chronicle</a>, a similar role at the <a href="http://dorsetnews.com/home">Dorset News</a>, and an intriguing writing proposition for a law firm called <a href="http://www.amrecruitment.co.uk/">AM Recruitment</a> in Manchester. The job description online was vague, but what little detail it did give sounded like something I could do. And I found it through Fish 4 Jobs rather than one of the normal jobs feeds I use that will have hundreds if not thousands of out-of-work hacks or hacks-to-be picking through them daily.<br /> <br />The sports reporter jobs are not specifically for trainees, reducing my chances of getting them further, but I got news that I passed my Sports Journalism NCTJ exam back in May with flying colours, something I am hoping will go some way to cancelling out my lack of experience.<br /> <br />On top of that trio, this morning I fired off four more e-mail applications for reporter jobs – none of them for trainees. They're all based in the south – at the <a href="http://www.newquayvoice.co.uk/">Newquay Voice</a>, the <a href="http://www.thisisdorset.co.uk/westerngazette/home">Western Gazette</a>, the <a href="http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/">Colchester Gazette</a> and the <a href="http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news.aspx">Kent Messenger Group</a> - and I have no idea if I could afford to move down there if I was offered it. But I feel like I have to try.<br /> <br />I also threw my name forward to work on the <a href="http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/job/896094/journalists-culturestyle/">culture section</a> for the Sunday Times breakaway website venture. Rupert Murdoch is insistent that he will be able to charge for online content sooner rather than later and all the signs point to this Sunday Times website launch as being the testing ground for the UK market. It would be fascinating to work on something so revolutionary to the industry.<br /> <br />Again, exact details for the role were sketchy, as I assume nobody is yet sure how things will pan out, but I've been reviewing music for the last five years or so and it's something I'm comfortable doing.<br /> <br />Other applications I've sent away are for a feature writer at a media agency called Medavia – I'd previously shunned all mention of agency work, although I can't put my finger on what it is that doesn't appeal to me – and a writer role at Liverpool public relations company Active PR.<br /> <br />Before this productive spurt I spent two or three days working on my CV and getting it exactly right, to the extent where my eyes feel like they're about to bleed in protest if I even think about opening the document again. I've also been spending more time on my covering letters, taking advice from obviously <a href="http://careers.guardian.co.uk/cv">this site</a> but also from a number of websites including <a href="http://www.jobsite.co.uk/hobsons_articles/grt_cov_letter.html">Jobsite UK </a>, <a href="http://www.pagepersonnel.co.uk/write-covering-letter.html">Page Personnel </a> and <a href="http://www.homebiztools.com/cover-letter.htm">HomeBizTools</a> although I am constantly wary of taking too much advice from faceless internet sites. <br /> <br />Those of you with sharp eyes will notice that the range of jobs I'm applying for is wider than before. This is partly because I felt I wasn't giving myself enough chances, and partly because I decided that local newspapers were not the be all and end all, and that there are other ways in to full-time journalism that I'm neglecting.<br /> <br />So now I'm back playing the waiting game, treading water with the free freelance work I'm doing, hoping for at least an acknowledgement of my applications to come through.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-4">Continue reading...</a>MediaGraduateGuardian CareersJournalism careersWed, 12 Aug 2009 11:31:50 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-4Public domain"I also threw my name forward to work on the culture section for the Sunday Times breakaway website venture." JamboPublic domainSunday Times - March 2009Jamie Smith2009-08-12T11:31:50ZJournalism graduate Jamie Smith looks for work; part 3http://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-3
Looking for a different 'in': Jambo's journey to find a journalism post goes on<p>Two weeks ago I graduated from university elated; a few days ago I got excited by the mere presence of a polite rejection letter in my inbox. </p><p>My job-hunting seems to be becoming ever more fruitless. No trainee reporter jobs at local newspapers have appeared on my RSS feeds at all <a href="http://www.jobs4journalists.co.uk">Jobs 4 Journalists</a>, <a href="http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk">Hold the Front Page</a>, <a href="http://www.journalism.co.uk">Journalism.co.uk</a> for days. Surprisingly, the rejection e-mail – my first (progress!) – came from the Yorkshire Post, despite me making a geography faux-pas on my application (see <a href="http://careers.guprod.gnl/journalism-graduate-seeks-work">entry 2</a>). </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-3">Continue reading...</a>MediaGuardian CareersGraduateJournalism careersFri, 31 Jul 2009 13:18:56 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-jambothejourno-seeks-work-part-3Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesBurnley celebrate their promotion to the Premier League. Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesJamie McDonald/Getty ImagesBurnley celebrate their promotion to the Premier League. Photograph: Jamie McDonald/Getty ImagesJamie Smith2009-07-31T13:18:56ZJournalism graduate seeks workhttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-work
We follow recent graduate Jamie Smith, AKA <a href="http://twitter.com/JamboTheJourno">Jambothejourno</a>, on his mission to securing that first post as a fully paid journalist. This is his second entry, read his <a href="http://careers.guardian.co.uk/journalism-graduate-seeks-job">first here</a><p><strong>Not officially a graduate</strong></p><p>Since my last update I officially finished uni. My results dropped through the letterbox – a disappointing but expected 2:2, ever so narrowly missing out on a 2:1, thanks for asking – and I started to contemplate my next move.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-work">Continue reading...</a>GraduateGuardian CareersMediaJournalism careersTue, 07 Jul 2009 11:16:02 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-workGetty"I sensed staff would prefer for most of our contact to be over the phone or by e-mail, rather than me pestering them face-to-face," said JamboGettyPeople queue outside a branch of Job Centre PlusJamie Smith2009-07-07T11:16:02ZJournalist graduate Jamie Smith on his path to his first job in journalismhttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-job
We follow recent graduate Jamie Smith, AKA <a href="http://twitter.com/JamboTheJourno">Jambothejourno</a>, on his mission to securing that first post as a fully paid journalist. This is his first entry<p><strong>Tentative steps</strong></p><p>So, a matter of hours after being replaced as the editor of the University of Sunderland Students' Union magazine Degrees North, I was picked up on <a href="http://twitter.com/">Twitter</a> and asked to describe life as a graduate for the Guardian. It was a lucky day – should have bought a Lottery ticket! </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-job">Continue reading...</a>GraduateMediaGuardian CareersJournalism careersWed, 24 Jun 2009 13:50:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/careers/journalism-graduate-seeks-jobJamie Smith2009-06-24T13:50:10Z